Looking for the perfect nostalgic stocking stuffer? Two words: Adult Play-Doh. Even better, the new six-packs are scented with your favorite memories from the ’90s!
Drumroll please for the six unique dohs. Yellow is “VHS Rental n’ Chill” and it’s buttered popcorn scent. Pink is “Dial Up Delight” and strawberry scented. Orange is “Mall Food Court” and supposedly smells like mystery meat? Blue is “Eau de Boy Band” and is aptly pine cologne scented. Gold is “Pump Up the Jamz” and has a sneaker scent. Finally, sparkly black is “Flannel Fresh” with a floral scent.
As if you could resist this throwback! Whether you’re buying it as a gift or for yourself, you can snag the “Grown Up Scents ’90s Edition” Play-Doh multipack on Amazon now. At only $12, it’s an easy way to relive the best decade ever!
Keeping it all clean can feel like a full-time job, and the pay is not great, um, non-existent. But the payoff is enormous: The soft scent of fresh laundry, sparkling clean bathroom countertops, couches and rugs that don’t stink like your pet…ahh! Besides just looking good and smelling fresh, you want to know that the surfaces in your home are clean clean. Pause: When you hear the words “disinfecting and sanitizing,” do you envision hours of scrubbing and deep cleaning? Us too, but good news: Sanitizing your laundry and disinfecting bathroom countertops is, like, a million times easier than that, thanks to our clean-freak pals at OxiClean™! Read on to learn why their new OxiClean™ Laundry & Home Sanitizer is the stuff of sweet-smelling dreams.
Wanna disinfect your tile? Yep. Sanitize your rug? Got it. Gym bag? Sure. A favorite tee that’s seen better days? A-OK! Oh, and laundry, of course, too, and your carpet, couch, bathroom countertop… OxiClean™ Laundry & Home Sanitizer 3-in-1 removes germs, odors and stains from multiple surfaces in your home. “Is this real life?!” Yes. Yes, it is.
This 3-in-1 sanitizer packs a punch, killing 99.9% of bacteria and viruses* (*when used as directed) in addition to providing stain and odor removal benefits on both hard and soft surfaces. It’s not just a laundry product. It’s a life product.
Our favorite things tend to be the dirtiest (looking at you, Mr. Fluffy Bunny, who literally gets dragged everywhere) and this product easily keeps them clean. Pro tip: The baggage we carry in our lives, again, literally, can get gross without our even knowing. OxiClean™ Laundry & Home Sanitizer 3-in-1 is excellent for keeping your backpacks, shopping bags and totes fresh and way less germy!
Last year, ColourPop’s Hocus Pocus Collection was an instant sensation. Now, even more trouble is brewing with the brand new Coven Crew Collection!
The Disney collab comes with everything you need to embrace the spooky season. You can shop everything from shadow palettes and lip products to a spider face stamp.
The collection is made up of:
12-pan Witching Hour Pressed Powder Palette in mattes and metallics
Three new shades of crème to powder Super Shock Shadows in the Trouble Brewing Kit
It’s (nearly) fall, ya’ll! If you want to give your house a little harvest love this season, look no further. We searched everyone’s favorite online marketplace and found plenty of things to give your abode cozy vibes in no time. From soft snuggly blankets to charming wall signs, scroll down to see the best fall decor you can find on Amazon right now.
Glasshouse Fragrances Trick Or Treat Pumpkin Pie Candle
While this candle is technically Halloween-inspired, we are definitely on board burning this candle the entire fall season. With notes of coconut, orange, pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cumin, maple, caramelized sugar, musk and vanilla, this pumpkin pie scented candle will burn for up to 65 hours.
These little pumpkins can go right out in September and stay out all the way through November. Use them on your mantlepiece, or on your dining room table as a centerpiece or Thanksgiving decoration.
Who wouldn’t want to snuggle down under this cozy-looking blanket? The warm color is the perfect accent for all your other fall decor, and the pom-poms add a little extra pop.
How adorable would these little guys look on your kitchen island? Or as hostess gifts? The succulents are not included, but that leaves room to plant other items, too.
If you need to stock up on battery-operated candles, now is the time! This nine-pack comes with varying sizes so you can spread around the house or use together and make a statement. But either way, creating a cozy (or eerie!) glow is part of the fall fun.
Don’t forget your front yard! These adorable scarecrows are perfect for welcoming guests to your humble abode during the fall season. Prop them up with pumpkins against your front door or put them in the ground in the yard, either way, they’re perfect for fall!
There's nothing quite like burlap for fall decor, and we love this banner! Adorned with maple leaves and the words THANKFUL, this banner can brighten up a living room, add flair to a holiday party and more.
This heirloom veggie poster is not typical fall decor, but the vintage vibe is charming, and it can work in your house all year long or just for the harvest season.
If you’re going to use paper plates and napkins for your harvest celebration, these adorable pumpkin and sunflower plates fit the bill and the adorable vintage truck napkins complete the package.
It’s easy to get a farmhouse look for fall with these cotton stems. Pair it with mini pumpkins and a burlap runner, and you’ll have a Pinterest-inspired table in no time.
An easy way to get that that autumn feel? Simply swap out your couch pillows for this fun set of four. Farmer’s Market inspired, with plenty of colors, these are something you’ll love to pull out year after year.
This fall-colored table runner comes in three different sizes: 16”x72, 16”x90 and 16”x108 or as a tablecloth! It’s got hints of green, and the plaid print is on trend for fall 2020.
Last, but not least is a comforting fall scent. If pumpkin spice isn’t your jam, may we suggest this apple/orange/cinnamon scent instead? Your house will still have those spicy fall undertones but with a twist.
Back-to-school time is always a perfect time to get nostalgic about your own days in the classroom, but things have changed a lot since you were the one sitting behind the desk. From hand-operated (gasp!) pencil sharpeners to everyone’s favorite folders, scroll down to re-discover some of the school supplies you probably couldn’t live without.
Scented markers made your papers smell delicious. Lucky for kids everywhere, they're still going strong and available anywhere school supplies are sold.
Bento boxes with Instagrammable food art have replaced plastic lunch boxes packed with fruit roll ups and gummy sharks (don't forget your matching Thermos!).
Somehow, we’re coming to the end of summer already, and we’ll be back to school before we know it. While the new school year is still going to look a bit different than before, back-to-school supplies are still a must. The coolest supplies always help to get kids ready to leave the summer daze behind, so we’ve searched for some of the best school supplies that you can snag on Amazon right now. Keep reading to see them all.
Pastel Tie-Dye The Happy Planner 12-Month Student Planner
Perfect for middle and high schoolers, The Happy Planner's classic options leave plenty of room for navigating homework, while leaving tons of room for creativity. We love the plethora of cover options and tons of sticker books to make planning fun.
This school year will feel different for many reasons. The Mood Tracker Planner gives kids the space to plan their days and process their feelings in a safe space.
These poppers are all the rage and your little one will love having one on their backpack to fiddle with while they wait for you to pick them up from school.
Remember growing up with scratch and sniff stickers? Then you'll appreciate these sweet-smelling pencils. The scents, which include Bubble Gum, Blue Slushie, Pineapple Swirl and Jelly Donut are guaranteed to last two years. These #2 pencils pull double duty. They smell great and they're great for the environment because they're made from 100% recycled newspapers.
This smart notebook is just that. It only has 32 pages, but that's all you'll need. Kids can draw and write over and over again on the reusable pages that come in plain, lined and dotted. With the Rocketbook app, your kids' artwork can automatically be saved to the cloud, so you can save some trees and room on your fridge.
Everything is better in color! Including these gel ink pens. Kids can let their artistic flair flow with no stress. Even if they happen to color outside the lines, no worries, these pens are totally erasable!
These awesome erasers will cleanly take away your mistakes. They even go a step further with a roller to clean up your eraser rollings so your masterpiece stays that way.
A great way to stand out in sea of backpacks? Charms for your backpack are the perfect way to accessorize for school. This adorable Pusheenicorn will make a dose of magic to the school year.
These pencil cases are the cutest monsters you want to carry with you. They can stash up to 30 pencils and keep them zipped up till you need them. It's a practical case with a unique one zipper design with five colors to choose from.
When the busy school schedule kicks in, things can get a little stressful. These rubbery pencil toppers will help ease some of that stress. They help with nail and pencil biting by offering something safe to chew. The toppers are made with 100% safe silicon and are washable. One less thing to stress over already.
If you love everything about IKEA, including how it smells of meatballs and deals, you’re in for a treat! To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the IKEA U.S. Family Program, the beloved Swedish retailer is releasing a limited edition HUVUDROLL Meatball scented candle! And if you’re an IKEA Family member, you can enter to win one as part of a “Store in a Box” package starting August 6.
The Store in a Box promises “the best, most recognizable pieces of an IKEA store to bring home,” including the meatball candle. If the cute blue packaging is any indicator, you’ll definitely want to toss your name into contest consideration. Plus that candle is a must-have!
IKEA is also running a number of deals to commemorate the anniversary. You’ll score $50-$100 off BRATHULT sofas, 40% off SISSIL cushion covers, 25% off SILKEBORG, MEJRUP and VEDTOFTE rugs and 20% off select FNITTRIG plant pots, among other discounts. Visit the website for the full list of deals, including in-store only offerings.
Finally, if you shop August 14-15 and spend $100 or more, you’ll receive one of the signature big blue bags to take home! Move on over, back-to-school shopping, because IKEA is making a real power move!
—Sarah Shebek
Kids love museums but curious hands and irreplaceable art do not always mix well. This summer, take your budding Picassos to the Asian Art Museum’s newest exhibit, teamLab: Continuity, an interactive digital art experience the whole family will love. Immersive art is all the rage these days so read on to find out why and how kids blend in perfectly!
TeamLab: Continuity
Asian Art Museum
Located in San Francisco’s Civic Center, The Asian Art Museum recently reopened after an extensive remodel and COVID-19 hiatus. Continuity is located in the brand new Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Pavilion, which at 8,500 square feet is the city’s largest art exhibition space.
My sidekicks, ages five and seven, were initially wary of the exhibit. Like most kids their age, they like to run around and touch things but know from previous experience this leads to frantic shushing in art galleries. However, the enthusiastic docents pointed out all the exhibit's cool features and encouraged the kids for some hands-on action. Before long, my kids were touching, giggling and dancing from room to room. Images of the natural world are projected onto the floor, ceilings and walls and change constantly as you walk which gives the feeling of being truly immersed in a painting.
TeamLab
Multiple senses are involved in this truly interactive exhibit as a swipe near the wall changes the display of colorful cherry blossoms while a touch of the hand creates a new cloud of butterflies. Music, dancing light and even smell adds to the experience with the scent of rose petals creating a spa-like and relaxing environment. In one particular room, the creators presented an exciting vibe with streams of light zooming around the room that slightly disoriented my sense of balance. The upbeat tempo of the music accompanied by the flashing lights caused my kids to immediately launch into their own private dance party.
Sketch Ocean
Sarah McDonald
Although Continuity is the main draw, don’t miss Sketch Ocean, a smaller exhibit located near the museum’s entrance. This is another interactive art experience from teamLab, where colorful sea creatures created by visitors are projected onto the walls.
Pick a template, color, scan and watch as your drawing bursts into life on the wall and swims away to join other creations. The movement of the artworks are quite life-like and the result mimics a real aquarium. Look out for fish who have swum all the way from Tokyo, where teamLab has a sister exhibit.
Nosh
Creating great art is hungry work, so make a stop at the museum’s cafe, Sunday at the Museum, for a Japanese-inspired sandwich (think Katsu chicken on milk bread with slaw!) or a house-made chocolate chip cookie. The cafe also serves boba tea from the Boba Guys and sparkling fruit drinks.
If you are looking for a fun way to fire up your kids’ imagination and enjoy modern art together minus the stress of keeping them quiet in an adult space, be sure to catch this exhibit while it is in town!
TeamLab: Continuity and Sketch Ocean
July 23 to February 2022 Tickets: $20/adults weekdays, $25 weekends, free for children under 12 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco Online: asianart.org
If you’ve been wanting to add a sensory kit to your child’s play options but the DIY has got you down, outsource it! Clever crafters over at Etsy have put together the cutest options with themes like dinosaurs, the beach and fairies. A favorite among Montessori educators, kits like these develop fine motor skills and help with early math lessons like sorting and counting. You’ll never be able to pick just one!
Get your diggers and hard hats out, this set is for all you construction fans out there! It comes with colorful chickpeas and lentils, along with scoopers and diggers to get the job done!
Bright red and blue colors bring together the elements of this fun superhero-themed kit. You can even have the kit scented with your choice of essential oils for the full sensory experience.
Kinetic sand, homemade playdough, personalized letter tiles and loads of dinos made up this fun kit. Gems, glitter balls and river rocks allow your little paleontologist the gear they need to build their dinosaur world.
We love the bright colors and all the accessories that come with this space-themed kit. Astronauts can blast off to the blue moon to rescue aliens with their spaceship.
Glitter playdough is just the beginning of the fun that you can find in this yellow play kit. Honeycombs, fuzzy bees and a honey dipper offer lots of opportunities for pretend play.
Last spring we all spent a lot more time in the garden—maybe for the first time. This year, keep your kids gardening with plants and accessories that not only thrive in our temperate climate but show your city spirit too. From Zoo Doo to sporty gnomes, your kids will really dig these Seattle garden must-haves.
Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo
1. Zoo Doo While Woodland Park Zoo's Zoo Doo Compost has "serious gardener" written all over it, we think it also screams "kid!" After all who else can appreciate the commingling of rhino, giraffe, hippo and zebra poop better than a toddler? Families can find Zoo Doo in two-gallon ($25) and pint-sized buckets ($6.95) at the ZooStore year-round.
2. Pacific Rhododendron Colorful and oh-so-easy to grow, Rhododendron belong in Seattle gardens. Not only is it the state flower, but it also announces the arrival of spring with a much-needed pop of color.
3. Pollinators Make your house a home for mason bees this year. These gentle bees pollinate fruit trees and bushes at a rate 100 times that of honeybees, and including them in your Seattle garden is as easy as renting them in spring. Help your garden grow and help your kids connect to the food they eat—that's a win-win!
4. Fairies Did you know that the original miniature garden maker lives in Seattle, and that she used to work at Swanson's Nursery? It's true. Local author Janit Calvo is all about installing a small garden in your big one, and we couldn't think of a better way to entice your kiddos to exercise their green thumb. Before you build your fairy garden, get inspired by these imaginative environs.
amazon.com
5. A Spirited Garden Gnome If you've got fairies in your garden, you may as well invite a gnome to live there too. If he's wearing Seahawks colors, you know he'll fit right in. Now to track down a Seattle Storm gnome—anyone got a lead?
6. A Rain Gauge They say it rains here. But are they right? Find out how much when you place a simple rain gauge in your garden. Shhh... don't tell the kids, but taking daily, weekly or monthly measurements adds extra science to your garden growing experience.
7. Your Beach Combing Treasures If you've been trying to figure out where, oh where to put your little beach bum's pocketed treasures, why not try the garden? It's the perfect spot to arrange sea glass, special rocks and seashells kids collect after a day tide pooling or sandcastle building.
8. Scented Ground Covers Because you can only remind your kiddos so many times that "flowers are fragile," plant durable ground covers that can survive a toddler's busy feet walking over them. And if they're scented—even better. Corsican mint, dwarf chamomile and many thymes release fragrant scents when touched or walked on. This fascinating feature will surely keep your little gardener's attention.
9. "Attractive" Plants Make your garden come alive with butterflies and hummingbirds. Attract them by planting colorful blooms they can't resist. Hummingbirds love orange and red hues you'll find in bleeding hearts, honeysuckle and fuchsia. Butterflies look for colorful flowers that easily grow in our climate, like sunflowers, lantana, lupine and johnny jump-ups.
10. Things to Eat Whether you've got a container on your deck, a raised bed in your backyard or a P-Patch plot in your neighborhood, planting fruits and veggies are what summer gardens are all about. Strawberries, tomatoes and simple herbs that kids can grow and eat makes gardening an exciting way to spend the day. Not sure where to start or what to plant? Check out Swanson's vegetable gardening resources to get started.
